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But Lewâ€"lovers can rest assured they won‘t have to look far to find the man. When hes not helping out a couple of times a week with special proâ€" jeets at city hall, he‘ll be lining up the perfect putt, as Mayor Joan McKinnon said, during one of his "tours discovering the environmental needs of our green areas". "One of my main concerns is my health," said Ayers. who suffered a heart attack just over two years ago. "I feel this deciâ€" "Lew is leaving behind a legacy of warmth and caring for the citizens of Waterloo and the people he works with," she said. "He is also taking an enorâ€" mous corporate memory with him. Whenever you needed to know something, all you had to do is ask Lew and he‘d be able to find it. "He will be terribly missed." Ayers, who has spent his entire career in the clerk‘s office, describes his upcoming leave as "a win for the city, and a win for Lew Ayers." Longtime Waterloo calls it a Over the last 34â€"plus years, when Lew Ayers would say the words, "I‘ve got to get going; I‘ve got wife, family and responsibilities", it was a good bet he would stick around the office for at least a little while longer. But this New Year‘s Eve, when Ayers declares his daily departure, nothing will keep him from that door. Friday will mark the longâ€" time Waterloo city clerk‘s last fullâ€"time day on the job. Ayers is retiring. Andrea Bailey Chronicle (G Staff When looking back on his career, however, Ayers said what first comes to mind are the fond memories of the peoâ€" ple hes met both on and off the job "When 1 first started," he explained, "I didn‘t know a thing about municipal poliucs. 1 was just a lad who saw an ad in the paper." ‘It‘s been hard for me recently to find that needed balance between home and office. Now its time for me to really try to find it." sion will help keep me around for awhile. Lew Ayers, who retires from his longâ€"time position in the Waterloo city clerk‘s office Friday, "files" some more important documents before his departure. o e But now, years later, he "I have enjoyed the variety of work I‘ve done from day one to now," he said. "I‘ve had the chance to pick and choose what I‘d like to work on, and that‘s kept my interest in the job all these years." In 1993, Ayers was promoted to the city clerk‘s position; and since that time he has seen a number of city accomplishâ€" ments, with his favourites including the Millennium Recreation project, the redevelâ€" opment of the Seagram lands, and the new development around Waterloo Town Square. couldn‘t see his life any other way. The infamous local mistake saw Susan Forwell announced as the winner on election night, but the decision was overturned the following morning, chalked up to a misâ€" count, and awarded to Mayor Brian Turnbull. But with the good has also come some bad and, in Ayers‘ opinion, nothing can top the embarrassment felt during the recount of votes for the Waterâ€" loo mayor‘s position in the 1994 municipal election. "There have been many goodâ€"news days for me here," he said. (Continued on page 4) Andrea Bailey photo Also chalking the somewhat of a turtle‘s pace in interest up to the hype surrounding Y2K, she said the week between Christmas and New Year‘s is sure to bring some skeptics out of the woodâ€" work. With more than 60 of the 150 tickets already sold, Hadland said guests can look forward to a funâ€"filled kickâ€"off to the next imilâ€" lennium "But it‘s true," she said. "a lot of people are staying at home this year. The trend seems to really be moving more towards house parties." Natalie Hadland, a manager of the East Side Mario‘s restaurant on King Street in Waterloo, said despite a bit of a slow start, ticket sales are now moving along. For $100 a person or $180 a couple, Hadland is offering five buffets on unlimited international cuisine, as well as complimenâ€" tary champagne and a dâ€"jay. "I don‘t think anyone will come close to the decorating we have done for the occasion," Stewart said, adding that he is hoping all 2,000 tickets will be sold over the next 48 hours. For the price of $50 a persan or $99 a couple, festivityâ€"seekers will receive a complimentary bottle of champagne as well as comâ€" memorative glasses for the occasion; have the chance to sample a number of food stands including a sushi station; view a variety of ice sculptures; take in a pyro show; and dance afl night in the platâ€" inumâ€"painted nightclub. Not making the cut, however, was the University of Waterloo‘s Bombshelter night spot, which had to cancel its New Years Eve festivities thanks to low ticket sales. But, with as much optimism as a person who has shelled out a few pretty pennies for the bash of the century can muster, most other hosts seem to be confident their efforts will not be in vain. in an attempt to show the stayâ€"atâ€"homers what they will be missing, Stewart said he has gone "whole hog to plan the best party we can come up with." On a higher note, events such as Waterloo‘s Complex Countâ€" down, held annually at the Recreation Centre, and the masquerâ€" ade party to be held at Federation Hall, located at the University of Waterloo, are both sellâ€"outs. "I‘m not sure if it‘s because of the Y2K scare, the increased prices or the fact people aren‘t sure yet what their friends are doing." What seems to be an unfortunate trend for these bashâ€"planners, this year especially, is that even some of the most regular party animals have opted to stay indoors, probably as close to the nearâ€" est case of bottled water as possible, just in case the feared Y2K bug decides to bite. "Ticket sales are a little slower, and 1 really don‘t know why," said Gary Stewart, owner and operator of the Revolution/Flying Dog nightclub in Waterloo. "But this is going on right acrass North America this year. People just don‘ seem to want to leave home. Party throwers are crossing their noisemakers that ticket sales for local New Year‘s Eve events will pick up in these last few days before the muchâ€"anucipated millennium ball drops this Friday night. Party animals opting to stay indoors this New Year‘s Eve saltery Dependable service since 1959 46 King St. N., Waterloo 886â€"2040 CLOSED SUNDAY & MONDAY TUESDAY â€" THURSDAY 9â€"5 30 FERIDAY 9â€"9. SATURDAY 9â€"5:00 FREE PARKING AT FRONT & REAR OF STORE Andrea Bailey Chronicle Staff â€"{4 of Sublah Lid t aar .(/)‘:1'(/4// Â¥ Farruituirce ; //'///‘ 7///« 4/ LAâ€"Zâ€"BOY® SGullery (Continued on page 5)